Are you ready to uncover the new twists and turns with Firehouse 51? If yes, then continue reading to learn all about
Chicago Fire Season 12.
It looks like the heart-pounding drama that has captivated audiences for over a decade is also not safe from the major storm of strikes that has finally made its stop for the Chicago Fire! After months of building anticipation for the series’ comeback, the fans will sadly have to wait for some more time, as the beloved drama is in no way close to making its return with a brand new season this year!
So, if you’re wondering what suddenly happened behind the scenes that changed the course of its release, then you’ve reached the right spot to get all our answers. For your convenience, we have compiled all the latest details about the potential release date. Simply put, it’s time to buckle up and get ready to know all about Chicago Fire Season 12!
Chicago Fire Season 12 Release Date: When will the series premiere?
Just like many scripted TV shows, sadly, the entire One Chicago franchise, which includes the beloved drama series Chicago Fire, has also been impacted by the ongoing strikes, which include the 2023 WGA strike along with the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. This ongoing situation has caused the workings of Hollywood to come to a halt until a proper resolution is made for the work to effectively resume and the production to conclude on time without causing any further hurdles to the release.
Due to these strikes that don’t seem to reach an agreement in the coming weeks, a revised schedule has been confirmed by the NBC network, highlighting an entirely new release window for the three One Chicago series, which is now set for an early to mid-2024 release window instead of it premiering in the previously confirmed fall broadcast schedule of 2023, with the same time slot of 9 p.m. EST, preceded by Med at 8 p.m. EST and followed by P.D. at 10 p.m. EST.
Our best estimate is that the writing of the series might commence as soon as the strikes reach an agreement with the filming, which has already been delayed and is scheduled to begin sometime later this year for the new episodes to begin airing in the first quarter of 2024, which includes the months of January, February, and March.
It will be ideal for the creators to take some time off and reflect on how the story will progress after this hiatus.
We would also like to emphasize that there is a chance that the new episodes can also begin airing by the end of this year only if the strike reaches an agreement within the next few weeks. Until then, the 2024 release window is fixed for all the scripted shows on the NBC network. We’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds for the fate of this series.
Chicago Fire Season 12 Plot: What to expect?
We would like to highlight that not much information regarding the potential future plotlines and character arcs of the upcoming season has been revealed due to an early renewal and efforts to avoid giving away too many spoilers when the writing of the new season hasn’t even been completed yet, but we are confident in saying this that the Chicago Fire Season 12 will undoubtedly look into the basic concept and be true in carrying the core theme forward, which is as follows:
This series will once again delve right into the professional and personal lives of the firefighters and paramedics of Firehouse 51 as they risk their lives every day to save and protect the citizens of Chicago. Even though the series was renewed earlier this year, it is too early to predict future storylines, but we are certain that the new season is intended to carry the story forward, which includes some of the following predictions, which we have summarized for you below:
*Spoiler Alert*
The plotlines that are predicted to expand include: In the wake of a fire/extremist threat, Mouch’s life hangs in the balance. Sylvie’s relationship with Dylan came to a close, and a new door opened as Casey proposed to her, all the while as she was looking to adopt an infant girl. Stella makes the decision to leave Chicago in hopes of bringing Kelly back. After looking at these points, one thing is certain the next season will definitely pick up plotlines and character arcs from the last season’s final episode, “Red Waterfall,” in which the viewers get to see the following events:
The viewers get to see that Brett travels to Indiana, hoping to receive life-changing news. Firehouse 51 is called to the scene of an accident. Stella notices something in the SUV and alerts Boden. Herrmann is taunted by one of the victims he saved at a call and went to a psychic parlor. Casey returns and proposes to Brett. Mouch is injured during a call and is rushed to Chicago Med. Initially, he seems fine, but later he loses consciousness and flatlines.
That’s not all. It looks like love might be blossoming for Darren Ritter, who is one of the most steady presences on the Chicago Fire. During a recent interview with TV Insider, Kyri discussed the possibility of Ritter getting a love interest in season 12, saying, “I think that’d be really fun. I think Ritter is confident and competent, but also, when it comes to matters of the heart, he’s kind of a kid,” the actor noted. “So I think it’d be just kind of fun to see what that would be like.”
Kyri also elaborated on her wish to learn more about Ritter’s love life, quoting, “I think one that sticks out right now that’s pretty appropriate is the scene where my character, Ritter, comes out for the first time to his beloved Lieutenant Herrmann,” the actor recalled. Further adding, “And it’s one of my favorite scenes because I like working with David Eigenberg, and it was just a beautiful non-event, which we need more of.”
“I’m pleased to continue my four-decade relationship with Universal Television and NBC,” One Chicago creator Dick Wolf said in a statement. “All six shows [including the Law & Order franchise] being picked up again is the ultimate accolade to our incredible casts, producers, and writers. I’d also like to thank our loyal fans who have kept our NBC shows on the air for what will be a cumulative 84 seasons.”
Also, check out the official promo of the last season’s final episode to recall what has transpired in the series so far:
Chicago Fire Season 12 Cast: Who will reprise their roles in the series?
The main cast members who are still speculated to return in the new season are as follows: David Eigenberg as Lieutenant Christopher Herrmann, Joe Miñoso as Firefighter Joe Cruz, Miranda Rae Mayo as Lieutenant Stella Kidd, Alberto Rosende as Firefighter Blake Gallo, Daniel Kyri as Firefighter Darren Ritter, Hanako Greensmith as Paramedic Violet Mikami, and Eamonn Walker as Deputy District Chief Wallace Boden among other recurring cast members.
On the other hand, due to a striking deal with NBC on budgets that will put the series on the air for another season, One Chicago producers Universal Television and Dick Wolf’s studio-based Wolf Entertainment are also cutting talent expenditures. In order to keep budget expenses down, there may be a cast shake-up, so we have to predict that there are some characters who might not return in the new season. For your convenience, we have listed all of them down, which are as follows:
Taylor Kinney (Kelly Severide) has taken a leave of absence to focus on a “personal matter.” Miranda Rae Mayo (Stella Nichole Severide), as it seems like Stella will make the decision to leave Chicago in hopes of bringing Kelly back. Kara Killmer (Sylvie Brett) There is a possibility that she might leave the show, with her character being in Oregon with Matthew Casey, who is still reported to not have returned. Christian Stolte (Randall McHolland) In the final episode of the 11th season, Mouch’s life hangs in the balance as he is injured by shrapnel, and fans are left wondering if the worst is going to happen to him or not.
Lastly, all these cast members are still subject to change because the network may subsequently make announcements about other cast members who will join or leave the series. Moreover, the series’ executive producers are Dick Wolf, Derek Haas, Andrea Newman, Michael Gilvary, Reza Tabrizi, Arthur Forney, and Peter Jankowski. It is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with Wolf Entertainment.
“We understand the emotional connection our audience has with these characters and we can’t wait to bring more of their stories to the forefront next season,” Lisa Katz, the president of scripted programming at NBCUniversal and Streaming, said in a statement. Further adding, “A huge thank you to Dick and his amazing team who are the masters of producing incredibly compelling television week after week.”
Chicago Fire Season 12 Episodes: Has it been reduced due to strikes?
The next season is speculated to consist of a 22-episode order with a runtime of 42 to 44 minutes, which is expected to air on a weekly basis. It is intended to follow the same count to maintain the season’s flow. We’d also like to point out that the titles and synopsis have not been released. These details will be revealed once the release date draws closer to avoid any early leaks about the respective plotlines and character arcs.
We would also like to emphasize that NBC Chicago reported an unfortunate update which indicates that the ongoing strikes could also result in seasons being shortened due to the lack of episode scripts and the writer’s room not resuming their work until a proper resolution, which will eventually lead to production delays. “They could be forced to cut seasons short or delay filming altogether,” the report added, which will be quite unfortunate but for the best in order to avoid another delay!
So, there are many chances that the customary 22-episode count might be reduced to 18–20 episodes for this upcoming season. Of course! It can only happen if the production is further delayed later this year and the network still wants to release the show by early 2024 in order to be consistent. As of writing this, we can only predict what the show creators have decided about the fate of this One Chicago series, which will let the fanatics ultimately reunite with their favorite Firehouse 51 squad!
Chicago Fire Season 12 Official Trailer: Is it available?
We would like to highlight that currently, there is no official teaser or trailer for Chicago Fire Season 12 because the filming hasn’t even begun, which makes it way too early for the network to produce any new content for the fans to get some insight into the future plotlines.
The production has been put on a halt until the strikes are able to reach an agreement. Until then, we encourage viewers to speculate about the storylines that may be explored to extend the One Chicago franchise for more seasons. For international viewers, the series aired on Global and then moved to CityTV in Canada. Whereas, in Malaysia, the series aired on PRIMEtime for eight seasons, then moved to Universal Channel Asia and AXN Asia.
Moreover, the entire three series of One Chicago are available to watch on NBC’s official website and app, where the episodes are published after they air on the channel. The show is also available to stream on Peacock, FuboTV, and Hulu Plus. You can also stream the series by renting or purchasing on Amazon Instant Video or Vudu, with a vast number of membership plans. The previous seasons of this beloved franchise are also available to stream for free on IMDb TV, based on the user’s location.
still thinking about this scene between ritter and herrmann 🥲🌈 #OneChicago pic.twitter.com/858ajSKNnt
— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) June 10, 2023
While you wait for more Chicago Fire Season 12 updates on Web News Observer, catch up on the previous seasons on NBC.